Platycephalus marmoratus
Marbled Flathead
Platycephalus marmoratus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Platycephalus marmoratus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Sandy coloured with distinctive marbled pattern on dorsal surface and upper sides, belly pale, lower sides pale with numerous dark blotches, and a dark blotch on lower half of tail. Eye large, with large circular ocular flap. Ambush predator, relies on camouflage to prey on small fishes and crustaceans. Endemic to south eastern Australia.
Information
Max Size: 36 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 18-23.1°C
Depth: 80 m.
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Widespread (100% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Ian Shaw